Card index or record device



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,907

J. H. RAND, JR., ET AL.

CARD INDEX OR RECORD DEVICE Filed Jan. 9. 1925 A. Sheets-Sheet l /I /fi ZX\I\I If z;

EEELIN 1T. 3

Eiralg) M Z0 EBlT-r PG.

EB 1 j@ E51: F, ZO

555mm' 1 I w.

EBENA mi.

ESE- NLM ESERP-1 ER Z/ KPL.

12m- B1 zo Z4 I' A fr0/WW2' ya",

Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,907 J; H. RAND, JR., 4E1' AL. I

cAaD INDEX DR. RECORD DEVICE v Filed Jan. D,- 1925 sheets-sheet 2 f? f ffy-ff EAU-ONCE. Z3 Z0 44 v /4 551i JF.

ljig-:giri IN JWA EATON QR.,

EBELA EEE 'Ese ma) ZO Dec. 6, 1927.

1,651,907 J. H. RAND, Rz, ET AL GARD INDEX 0R RECORD DEVICE Filed dan. 9. 1925 4 Sheets-sheet 5 Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,907

J. H. RAND, JR., ET AL CARD INDEX OR RECORD DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A fr0/@fuffa 'Patented d, fi?

io without-the necessity of .ia-meinungen, are... or froiiawanne, .airain i n. nnrcnnres, or nerr-ano, :anw

WANA, NEW Y @TGN INC., 0F TOMA CARD INDEX OR. RECORD DEVICE.

Applicationlled January 9, i925. Serial ltmvln;

ti edges of thecard holders or members pro jecting one beyond another.

Indexes of this nature have been provided in which the card holders have an attaching portion adjacent one edge for releasably l@ securing the holder to the tray or support,

and a transparent sheath or pocket at the opposite or free and exposed edge which is adapted to receive an edge of a card or an insert slip bearing data relatingv to the card to 1 5. enable the data thereon. to be viewed. lllhe pockets on some oi these holders are adapted to receifvea card on each face of the holder, but as only one card is arranged on eachside of the holder, the' capacity of an index of this kind is limited, and where the index matter comprises a mass of brief records, y /siich as-narnes andaddresses, the cost of providing a holder and a card for each name and address is expensive, andthe capacity of each tray or support is limited. @n ,the other handit is impractical to enter a plu-- .rality onames or records on a single card as only one oit the .records would be visible without moving the holders above it, and

ao such a system lachs exibility, as vit is iinpracticable to rearrange the naines when it is desired to add new names or records', except by providing new cards and reentering all 'the previous data.

.Some objects of the present invention therefore 'are toprovide `a card index of relatively great capacity having a series of card holders arranged in overlapping relation vwith their edges exposed one beyond an 4a other,l and a plurality of-groups or seriesoi overlapping cards also arranged 1with their edges exposed 4one beyond another, said holders 'and card groups beingconstructed so that each holder is adapted to su port one de or more of said groups of cards; aso to provide a holder oi this kind having means for visibly indicating the nature of the data on the cards of each group,;or the location of a certain data thereon, disturbing the lold- I ers until the holder bearing such card has been visibly located. v I"Other objects are to provide a card index particolar card having cards thereon may be readil bodying one form ofthe invention.

in which vthe individual cards ofeaeh group are constructed so las to be interlocked or detachably connected to each other and so that any one of the cards comprising an end card of a group can be detachably connected to any holder of the series; also to construct the cards and holders so that the index is exceedingly exible o r adapted to be expanded whereby the individual cards, the groups of cars, or the card holders with or without the interchanged, also to provide anindex of t is sort of such relatively great capacity that data heretofore requiring a, large number of cabinets wherein to house the trays or support may be arranged in an index small enough -to be conned in a. fraction of the space previous- -ly required. l,

- Another object is to provide an index of this sort with holders or members having means thereon for protecting the faces of the cards in use and preventin the edgesol the cards of one group or hol er from catching on the cards'on another holder and which is movable to permit access to the cards; also to improve card indexes in the vother respects hereinafter specied and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a fragmentary 1an view of an index tray or support, an af plurality oi" holders or'members with groups of cards or index devices supportedthereon and ein- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary face view oig one of the holders detached and showing card groups on each face thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof on line 3 3, Fig. 2;

A Fig. 4 is a face viewof a slightl modi-fied` form of ythe record cards or inem ers show-- ing two ofthe ,cards partl attached. y

Figs and 6 are simi ar viewsI showing the front; ndrear facesl respectively of the two cards'attached.

. Fig. is a transverse section thereof on line-J?, Fig.; 6.' Fig. -8 is a fra n. group of the' 4iiiex car s arranged 'on a holder having means for protecting lthe cards from wear.

' Eig. 9 is a similar view showin a.' number of the holders of Fig. 8 Iarrange on a trav 105 orsupport.

' face view of e100 Fig. is a view showing a group of cards of modified form and a card holder for supporting these cards.

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing a group of the cards Varranged on an intermediate card, one of said c'ard groups and cardsbeing 'arranged on each face of a holder.

Fig. v12 is a face view of a card holder of modified form and a plurality of cards secured thereon. 1

In the various forms of the index shown in the drawings, a p'lurality of card holders the tray with their bodyportions one above another and their free or lower edges 18 exposed one beyond another, by inserting the upper ledges or portions ofone holder between the port-ions 12 and 13 of the holder above. The holders are preferably'provided with transparent sheaths or pockets 19 at their lower edges'. The invention, however, is not limited to use with holders lying sub stantially tlatwise'on a tray or support, as other holders having a body portion and a portion which permits the bodyl portion to swing or hinge thereon may be used, as long lapping relation.

According to the present invention the index matter or other data to be carried on the holders 10, such for example as an alphabetica'l list of names, addresses or the like, is inscribed on a series of cards or index de- 'as they are adapted to be arranged in overvices, preferably one name o'r entry to each` card, and these cards are adapted to be arranged vertically in groups, series or chains and maintained in substantially fixed overlapping 'relation with one edge of each card exposed beyond the edge of the' adjacent cards to display the index matter thereon, and means are provided whereby one or more of these groups may be detachably secured to and rest latwise on the body portion of each holder 10 so that when the holders are arranged in nested relation as explained the -groupsof cards are dis osed or lie between and are concealed by t ebody portions of adjacent holders but are readily accessible by swinging the holders on their hinges.

In the construction shown in Figs.- 19 the cards 20, having upperf'and lower parallel edges 21, 22 respectively, are yeach provided with a paig of oppositelyl directed tabs or ears23 formed by cutting'away a port-ion at each end of the card near the' upper corners. Each card also has a pair of apertures orslots 24- formed between the fupper and lower edgesand spaced so that the tabs 23 of one card may be inserted in the slots 24 of an ,othercard so as to lie flat thereon and peri mit the upper portion of the card to which it is vattached to be exposed.. These exposed portions areintended to receivethe index notations or entries 25. It will be seen that While the cards 20 lshown in the drawings are relatively narrow, .wider cards mayl of course be used if desired, in which case a less number of cards would be prise a group.

As the tabs 2.3 of the upper cards .of a group are unattached to the other cards, this v card is preferably utilized for attaching the group ot' cards to the holder 10, and for this purpose the holder body 11 is provided with a pair of s'lots 28 preferably near the hinge connection or upper edge, for said reception of the tabs 23 of the upper card, whereby the group ofeards is detachably secured to lie fiat on the holder. 'In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9, a pair of card groups, i

series or chains 26 is arranged side by side on'the front face of each holder 10, while in Figs. 2 and 3, a pair of groups 26 is arranged on each face of each holder, but one group only, or as many groups as desired may be carried on each holder. H

The holders 10 are providedwith suitable provided with means where y the user of the index vcan determine the approximate location of any desired record by visual observation, or in other words, the group in which the desired card is located can be de'-l 4termined by 'such means. For this purpose removable slips 30 are provided, oneof which 1s adapted to be inserted in the exposed transparent' pocket 19 of each vholderin Figs. 1,`

8 and 9 01 one in the pocket at opposite sides .of the holder if cards are secured on vboth faces thereof asl invFiGs. 2 and 3. These slips bear index matter br other suitable data indicative of the records on the groups of cards. For instance,as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 the cards in the two groupson each holder Q10 bear names 'arranged in alphabetical order, and the slips are inscribed with the rst n amey ofthe iirst group ,and the last name of the secondgroup, lthereby apprising the user that any name, which by its spelling,

comes between these two names will be foundVp in one or other group on that holder, and

may be exposed 'by swinging the holders:

above itbackwardly on their hinges.

rAs shdi'n in F igs.v 10 and 11, an arrangement is provided whereby/the cards are disposed in groups as before, but wherein each of the cards of each group, instead of only vmeiner I; an end'card, is engaged or connected with sitely directed li'ps vor tongues 33. The

holders a byinserting the tongues 33 into the vertical parallel slots 34 in the holders cards are adapted tobe attached to the and are vnested so as to expose their lower edges by guiding the cards after they have been connected as explained, so as to engage the upper edgeof onecard 'between the flap 32 and main portion of the card above.

. This arrangement. provides a compact gbrouping of the cards on the holders-and permits anyone or more vof the cards to be removed,

or Iothers added without detaching the re maining cards Jtrom the holder. This type of index is particularly adapted for use in.

an index vwherein'- the data. is `oi a more or less temporary character and is *to be frequently changed -or enlarged.

Another arrangement of the cardigroups.

isillustrated in Fig. 12 wherein cards 36 similar to those shown'in Figs. 1-3, 8 and 9 but without the Slot 24 are used. The holder l()b in' this instance is -ormed so that vthe cards'36 are separately attached thereto' and maintained in hired-overlapping relation thereon, as by providing two lparallel', vertical rows of. spaced slots' 37 for-the recepf tion of the tabs 38 of thelcards. `Whilethe:

cards 36 are'disposed in j overlapping relation, any one or'more of the cards may be 5, removed without disturbing the others,- and a .portion onlyA o a group may be attached and securely maintained on the holder, and otherl cards added atany time.

' It mayl be found necessary orfde'sirable to Vforin the cards or index 'members' of paper or other relatively thi-n and flexible material which might fcause'the cards to bendl between theirpoints of attachment and become disengaged' from one another or from the holders, or the cards maybulge between u 'which 1n' turn are also disposed 1n overlap their ends and be prevented. from lying flat their ends or side edges. This means, see. Figs. 111-6, comprises an earor lip 40 vformed .by .slitting or .cutting each card along the .line 41, atv a point preferably midway bey tween its'side'edges'andinxa position'whioh P in the index.` Means are providedwhereby such cards are held in interlocking engagement at one or more points intermediate of will coincide substantially with the .bottom edge of an adjacent card when theeards are assembled. When the cards are arranged on the holders, orare connected in grou s, each lip 40 is adapted to be sprung over t e coincident edge of the adjacent card as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thereby holding the middle portions thereof securely in positionand maintaining the cards flat on the holders and. preventing them frombehcoming unintentionally disengaged.

lt is desirable, but, not essential, that means b e provided for protecting the groups of. cards against wear and preventing the cards in one group or on one holderirom catching on the cards on another holder in the use of the index. The present invention includes means for this purpose, see Figs. 8 and 9,.each holder l() being -provided with one or more protecting strips or sheet separators 'of thin, dexible and preferably transparent materialsuch as celluloid, secured at or adjacent an edge of the body portion ll so as' to extend lengthwise of and uponeach grou of cards. lln the embodiment illustrate with two Iof -the strips t5 for each group of cards and these strips vare secured at their lower ends only to the lowei` edge portion of the holder on a line below the lower edge of the bottom cards, as by. wire staples orstitches 46, so as to extend upwardly over and in contact with the card group-s. When thel card holders lie f in substantiallyv vertical planes, the Celluloid strips 45 'lie dat on the cards because of the stidness of the Celluloid andbecause said strips are confined by the overlying card holder. 'llhese strips vedectivelyprevent undue wear on -the cards in the use -oi? the index,l thus prolongin the lifeeach lolder is provided' y thereof, and as the may be'easi y turned back as shown in ig. 8, they a'ord ready accessto vthe cards and, bein transparent,l the legibility of the recordsis unimpaired by. their use. Any other suitable protecting means'may be employed which will permit proper visual observation of, or ready access to, any of the'cards on the holders.

ile several forms ofi cards adapted for use in groups in accordance with this invention have been illustrated and described, it

will 'be noted that in each case the' card groups, having the cards, arranged in overlspp'ing relation with an edge orv ortion o adjacent' cards, are mounted on holders ping relation with their edges 'exposed one each card exposed beyond the e ges'of plurality-ot separate index cards or members adapted to be arranged in groupsor chains in overlapping relation with their edges exposed one beyond another, and means for -detachably securing one or more of said 4groups lof cards on each of said holders. l

2. In an index device, aplurality of holding members each having a plane body por- :tion anda flap at one edge adapting4 said yholders to be arranged in overlapping nested relation with their opposite edges exposed one beyond another, a plurality of separate index cards or members adapted to be arranged'in groups or chains in overlapping relation `with their edges exposed one.

beyond another, vand means for detachably Securing one or more of-said groups of-cards on each of saidholders.

3. In an ,index-device, a'fsupport, a` p lu- --rality of plane: holding members havingA means for detachably 'connecting them to s aid support in overlapping'arrangement with edges of adjacent holders exposed lone beyond anothe/r, a plurality of separate index cards or members, andmeans for cle-- tachably connecting a plurality of said cards in an overlapping` series to each of said holders.

4. In an index device, a support, `a plurality of plane holding members havmg meansl for detachably connecting them to said 'support in overlapping arrangement with edges of vad3acent holders exposed one'v beyond another, a plurality of separateindex cards-or members, cooperating mea-ns on said cards andsaid holders whereby said cards may be attached in groups in overlapsaid holders. 5

5. In van index device, a support, a plu- :rality olf' plane holding members having ping relation and detachably supported onl means for detachably connecting them -to said support in overlapping arrangement with edges of adjacent holders exposed one beyond another, aplurality of separate in" .with a plurality of .holding members each vhaving a plane body portion and a flap at one edge adapting said holders tov-be ar.-

ranged in overlapping nested relation with their opposite'edges exposed one beydnd another, of a plurality of separate index .cardsor members adapted to be 'arranged flatwisein groups and ill-overlapping relation with their edges exposed one beyond another, and attaching means adapted to permit one or more of said groups to loe detachably secured I on each holder so as. to lie'atwise .on and bebackedi by said body portionthereof."

' 7 In an' index device, thel combination with a support, .and a plurality of holding.

members each havinga flap provided with portions -for securing -said holder on sald 'support in ove cent holders so-t at-thelr edges are exposed pping 'relation with adjaone .-beyondr, another, of. 'anplurality of sepa@ rate index` cards or devices adapted to be I arranged 1n groups in overlapping relation AWlth their edges exposed one beyond.- another, a plane body .portion on veachof said holders of a size such.' tliat one orfmore of saidgroups may lie thereon and be backed up and supported thereby, land means for detachably'securing said group or. groups onv said body portion.

8. In an index device, a plurality of'holdlng members each having a plane body portion anda flap. at oneedge'vadapting said holders to be arranged iii-overlapping nest` ed relation with their opposite vedges exposed one beyond another, a plurality'of separate index cards or members adapted to4 be arranged 'in groupsy in overlapping relation with their edges exposed one beyond another, means for detachably securing one or more of said gro-upsfof cards on each of said holders, and the exposed-edges of saidv holders being adapted'to bear index matter indicative ofV the inclexnrlatter on the cards in' said group.

ing members each having a planebody por- .ti'on 'and a flat at one edge' adapting said 9. Inan index device, a plurality of hold-f90 holders to`be arranged in overlapping nested relation with .said body- .portions disposed:i

substantially flatwise on said supportW-ith their edges' exposed one 'beyond'another, a.

plurality'ofseparate index cards or members adaptedv to be arranged substantially l'lativise in groups in overlapping relation with their edges exposed one' beyond another,

means for detachably securing one o'r vmoreof s aid groups on each` of saidholders so as to 111e on the body portion thereof and' be conf cealed between. the same and the body of another holden-and said exposed edges of said holders'being adapted to bear visible ind'exf Vdata indicative of the'index concealed card groups. l 10. Inan index device, a support,`a plurality of plane .holding members having means for detachably connecting them tof said support inA overlapplng arrangement matteron saidA 'with edgesr of adjacent holders exposedA one .beyond another, a plurality of separate index "'ca1ds or members' adaptedA to be arranged latw'sein gro-lips in overlapping -relat1on, means for detachably securing one or 'moreof said card groups on each of 'saidf holders, and each of said holders having one ormore flat, flexible protecting members attached adjacent an 'edgethereof and' adapted to extend over and lie upon said card group or groups .to protect the sam the use of the index.

, 1 1.- In -an index device, asupport, a plu- -ralityof plane holding members having means for 'detachably conneetingthem to e from-Wear in said support4 in' overlapping arrangement with'edges of 4adjacent holders. exposed one beyondanother, a plurality of separatem'- netgear f or more of said card groups on each or said holders, and each of said holders having one or` more flat, flexible protecting members adapted to protect the same from wear in the use or the index,'said protecting mem.- bers each comprising .a thin, exible strip, means for securing the same to the holder adjacent an edge thereof and so'as to extend across and lie upon they cards, and said members being adapted to be flexed to permit access to said cards. f

l2. In an index de'viceya support, a plurality of plane holding members' having means for detachably connecting theinto said support in overlapping arrangement with edges of adjacent holders exposed one beyond another, a plurality of separate index cards or members adapted to be arranged latvvise in groups in overlapping relation,

means for detachably, securing one or more of said card groups on each of saidholders, and each of said holders having one or more dat, flexible protecting members adapted to protect the cards from Wear in the use or the index, said protecting members each comprising athin, dexible strip, means Aror securing the same! to the holding member adas to extend across and he upon the cards, said members being transparent andrexible to ermit index' matter on said card -groups e viewed Without moving saidmembers, andere permit said members 'to be exed to adord access to said cards.

' l2..` In. an' index device, a support, a pluralit/'y of plane holding members having' means lfor detachably connecting them to said support in overlapping arrangement with' edges 'of adjacent holders exposedone v beyond another,'a plurality of separate index cards or members, means for detachably securing said cards to each otherin groups'` in overlapping relation, said means com-- prising a pair of oppositel disposed lugsonV each card, each card having corresponding apertures adapted. to receive the respeotiyeeach of said holdei' gage lugs of anothercard, and having a pair' of spaced apertures adap -to receive a pair of said card lu vsto detachably support agroup on said older.

14. In an index device, a support, av plu.

rality of plane holding members ,having -means for detachably connecting them to said support in overlapping. arrangement with edges of adjacent holders exposed one beyond another, a plurality of separate index cards or membersmeans for detaehably securing said cards to eachother, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed lugs on each card, each card having a pair of corresponding apertures adapted to receive the respective lugs of another card, and saidwhen connected vv in overlapping'relation wit v posed onebeyond anotheigcand each or said holders having a pair 'of apertures -adjacent -.one edge and adapted. to receive the'liigs on i apertures being disosed'so that said i .be arran ed in grou-psvv eirgzdgesemA and a' ex-ibleprotectl5. ln an index device, a support, aplu-H rality of, plane holding members,

' means for detachablyconnecting them to said support in overlapping arrangement.

with edges oit adjacent holders exposedl one.

beyond another,.alplurality or separate in'- dex cards or members, apair 'of opposite,l

laterally extending lugs, one of the lugs being disposed on one side of the card and the other lug on the other side of vthe card;

and said c ards each having spaced apertures at their side portions torec'eive the respective lugs of another card to'maintain saidl 4ca-rds in overlapping spaced relation in oups, andan ear on each cardfintermef| iate the side-edges thereof adapted to engage over one edge of anzadjacentcard to hold the cards datwise one on another, and

said holders having-'apertures adapted to receive the lugs of one of said cards to de- A tachably support a 'group or cardsthereon.

16.111 an index,- a plurality of interengaging index cards .or members arranged in I I groups in overlapping relation with their edges exposed one beyond anotherpa plurality of supports on which one or more'of said groups is or are adapted to'be arranged, sheet separators on said slpports arranged between the groups on a jacent supports and adapted to ,prevent groups when said groups are moved rela.. tively to each other or to their supports.' 17. ln an index device, a series of similar cards superimposedone on 'the other with theiredges in odset 'relation so as to torina m5. wear betv's'eenl said series or .chain or cards with edges in visible. i

index position, 4 interlocking means .fordetachably/maintaining said cards in chain form, and a holder member 'adapd to en-f end. cards or eachchain so as to snpport a pluralityr of chains ofcards.

18.1n an index device, a series or similar cards superimposed one on theother :with their'edges in o'set relation sc as' to form a series or chain of'eards with' edges in visible index position, tachably Vmaintainiii said cards in4 chain form, a holder Amem r .adapted teengge end cards of each chain so as to''support one interlocking means for; de.

yieriy or more chainsof cards, ,andframe means for supporting a pl' ality of'.said holderV members :superim osedj one' on fthe othgr with the edges. osaidl'ioldermemhers in piraat, visib1e,ndexpo sition.

19. In'an index device, a card having a of openings, the ears ofgone card. being plurality ofjoutstanding -ears and a pluadapted to register-with and enter intothe VU5 rality of openings, the ears of one card beopenings of another. similar card so as to ing adapted to register with and enter into* forni a ser-ies' or chain of cards with overl -lil the-openings of another similar card so as to. 'lapping edges in visible, index position, a

form a series or'chain of cards with overlap# holder member having 'openings adapted to ping edges in visible,"index position, and a" receive the ears of a card in said chain so 20 holder member having openings adapted to as to support one or more chains of cards on reeeivel the "ears of a card 'in said chain so said `holder` member, and frame means for '10' as to support- 'a plurality of.y chains o f cards supporting said `holder members in overon said holder member-in :parallel relation.I lapping visible, index position. l 20. In-an index device, -a card havin a 4 p JAMESI H.ARAND JR. pluralityof outstanding ears and a plurali-)ity z LE ROI E. HUTCH-INGS. 

